Electric Pocket Unveils New Wireless Messaging Technologies at PalmSource; Mailer and Pixer Provide Text and Photo Messaging Solutions for Palm OS Handhelds.

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

PalmSource

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 2002

Today at PalmSource, the annual gathering of Palm OS platform developers, Electric Pocket Limited introduced two new wireless messaging applications for Palm Powered handhelds. The first, Mailer, is a POP3 email application that offers a powerful, multi-account email engine to enable users to receive only the email messages needed. The second, Pixer, enables users to send annotated picture messages and photographs from a Palm OS handheld, giving a taste of forthcoming multi-media messaging services (MMS).

Electric Pocket's Mailer has been designed to suit the particular needs of mobile users, rather than imitating desktop email systems. It provides users with a unique system configurator that greatly simplifies the process of setting up email and getting online to begin mobile messaging. Once users are online, they can pick and choose which email accounts to check and how much of each message to download, optimizing their time by collecting and viewing only the mail they need. Further, the ability to pre-configure Mailer with default email settings makes it an ideal messaging choice for large-scale deployment to an end-user or subscriber community.

Electric Pocket believes that mobile messaging should be focused on providing the best means of communicating, and should provide options beyond simply including a "Reply" feature. Often, the best way for a mobile device user to respond to an emailed message is through a phone call, not email. Mailer supports this principle through tight integration with the handheld's Address Book and telephony capabilities. On handhelds equipped with Bluetooth, infrared (IR) or built-in telephony, Mailer gives users the option of replying to email messages with a phone call, as well as the traditional email reply. The phone call is automatically dialed from within Mailer, simplifying the reply process by offering the option of choosing a phone call versus emailed response.

Electric Pocket first introduced picture messaging to Palm Powered handhelds with its highly-acclaimed BugMe! Messenger application, which gives users the ability to annotate pictures and photographs and email them wirelessly from their Palm OS handheld. Picture messaging is a core component of MMS, which covers the sending of pictures, animations and sound from mobile devices, and is seen as a key component of next generation telephony services, and is widely predicted to generate revenues in the order of $2 billion during 2003.

Pixer enables users to send and receive picture messages and handwritten notes directly from a wireless PDA. Pixer is specifically designed for making picture messaging easier for users, as they can take advantage of the handheld computers' screen and stylus when composing messages. Users can either import photographs into Pixer or choose from an extensive catalog of templates featuring commonly used business stationery and fun cartoon characters, including Garfield, Cathy and Ziggy. Pictures and photographs can be annotated directly with the user's own handwriting and then sent to any email address.

Electric Pocket is committed to following emerging MMS standards, and future versions of Pixer will bring full MMS messaging to handheld platforms. Support for new media types, including sound and animation, will be added to Pixer as the host platforms and networks support them.

"Mobile messaging is attracting a lot of attention, but very few vendors seem to understand the unique needs of mobile users," said Iain Barclay, Electric Pocket's chief products officer. "With Mailer and Pixer, we have taken a fresh look at wireless messaging and developed applications that are easy to set-up and use, reduce time and expense, and provide users with greater flexibility in getting their messages across."

Mailer and Pixer are available for handhelds and communication devices running Palm OS versions 3.5 and 4.0, including the Palm m500 series and Handspring Treo Communicator series. Pixer will also be available for Pocket PC handhelds, including the Compaq Ipaq. Beta versions of Mailer and Pixer are available for download from the Electric Pocket Web site. Mailer and Pixer will each retail for US$29.95. A Pixer-based MMS server solution is available to mobile carriers and special pricing is available for OEM arrangements and volume purchases.

About Electric Pocket Limited

Electric Pocket is a privately held company offering leading-edge mobile and wireless computing solutions and services from its base in Wye Valley, UK. The Company's product portfolio includes a rich set of wireless messaging solutions, mobile commerce and configuration toolkits. Electric Pocket's consulting group has provided solutions to global companies such as Ericsson, Palm, Handspring, Gap and Ubinetics. For more information, visit www.electricpocket.com.

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